I think it has been mentioned before somewhere, but if you are close to finishing the 72 park challenge, you may want to check in advance if the park you are going to will have the final 72 park coin. We finished it about a week or two ago and at the time Ft. Snelling did not have any of the coins. They have since got more in, although I ended up getting the last of this batch. I have been told by multiple sources that they are not actively making more coins since the program is nearing the end, so I think they are just shifting the inventory between the parks that have them (Demo parks are supposed to be the ones that have them)

Interestingly one ranger told me that Mille Lacs Kathio seems to have one of the larger supplies of them, she really didn't know why that park had so many.

I think it has been mentioned before somewhere, but if you are close to finishing the 72 park challenge, you may want to check in advance if the park you are going to will have the final 72 park coin. We finished it about a week or two ago and at the time Ft. Snelling did not have any of the coins. They have since got more in, although I ended up getting the last of this batch. I have been told by multiple sources that they are not actively making more coins since the program is nearing the end, so I think they are just shifting the inventory between the parks that have them (Demo parks are supposed to be the ones that have them)

Interestingly one ranger told me that Mille Lacs Kathio seems to have one of the larger supplies of them, she really didn't know why that park had so many.

It'd be easier for you to drive to DNR HQ in St. Paul than drive to Kathio. Make an appointment, they will let you in.

Interestingly one ranger told me that Mille Lacs Kathio seems to have one of the larger supplies of them, she really didn't know why that park had so many.

The reason given to me was that since Mille Lacs Kathio was the mandatory ending place for the previous History Challenge, they thought most people would end their Safari Challenge there as well. What they did not account for is that with no "Final Cache", people could finish wherever they want.

Sidenote IMHO, I hope they implement another mandatory final cache upon completion of their next challenge. This way people can follow along online and read people's logs after they finish the challenge. Plus, it gives a bigger sense finality for the person completing the challenge._________________"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods..." - Lord Byron

Sidenote IMHO, I hope they implement another mandatory final cache upon completion of their next challenge. This way people can follow along online and read people's logs after they finish the challenge. Plus, it gives a bigger sense finality for the person completing the challenge.

I 100% agree. Though my wife would literally strangle me if I went around a third time. I thought the finish of the Safari caches was a HUGE let down. When I turned in all of my cards, there was no fanfare. I wanted them to dance around like they did for the history challenge.

Interestingly one ranger told me that Mille Lacs Kathio seems to have one of the larger supplies of them, she really didn't know why that park had so many.

The reason given to me was that since Mille Lacs Kathio was the mandatory ending place for the previous History Challenge, they thought most people would end their Safari Challenge there as well. What they did not account for is that with no "Final Cache", people could finish wherever they want.

Sidenote IMHO, I hope they implement another mandatory final cache upon completion of their next challenge. This way people can follow along online and read people's logs after they finish the challenge. Plus, it gives a bigger sense finality for the person completing the challenge.

I will pass on the suggestion. The new one is in the pipeline now._________________Dinnae fash yersel (don't worry yourself)

I liked the safari cache challenge better than the history challenge because you didn't have to back track to get the regionals and the final. Having to do that was a pain to plan around. I liked being able to go in the order that we wanted to as we traveled around the state.

So I personally hope that they don't make the next series like the history challenge.

I do agree though that it was nice to be able to see the logs as people completed the regional caches and especially fun to see the final cache logged in the history challenge.

What about a puzzle cache or one of the new-fangled challenge caches (that I don't know anything about) to just virtually log for the 10, 20, 40, 60 and all state park caches? (Although there may be some geocaching.com guidelines that won't allow a puzzle cache without an actual log. Multi-cache?)

And as far as the "fanfare" at the end... We had a fantastic reception at Afton when we turned all of our cards in. Very nice for a busy close-to-the-cities park. They took our picture with their camera and wrote down our names, handles, email information and a few notes about what we considered our high-lights of the second time around. (And the picture they took with our camera make us look like we had found all 72 caches that day!)

Can't wait for the next state park challenge to start. It will be our 4th time around to all the parks! First time was 2002 to 2004 when we did the passport club and hiking club. Hope the next challenge is about birds! One of the best parts about geocaching in the state parks is all the birds we see while hiking.

I liked the safari cache challenge better than the history challenge because you didn't have to back track to get the regionals and the final. Having to do that was a pain to plan around. I liked being able to go in the order that we wanted to as we traveled around the state.

Agreed on the elimination of the "Regional Finals", but I think having a single mandatory final cache would be nice. Where do you put it though??? Kathio was central for the state, but I'ld bet that a metropolitan location like Fort Snelling would be nice too for the assumed majority of the participants (but that's for a different thread )_________________"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods..." - Lord Byron

Any chance that the Safari challenge will be extended? I haven't gotten the caches in the NE part of the state. Only chance I have to do that now is Memorial weekend. Would still like to get those caches if I can. Who can talk to the state and have them extend it till the end of May? Have to try anyway._________________King of the Jeff Gordon TB's!
They put that cache WHERE?

Any chance that the Safari challenge will be extended? I haven't gotten the caches in the NE part of the state. Only chance I have to do that now is Memorial weekend. Would still like to get those caches if I can. Who can talk to the state and have them extend it till the end of May? Have to try anyway.

Sorry, it will not be extended. The new program should start near the beginning of May._________________Dinnae fash yersel (don't worry yourself)